Amblyopia
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, refers to poor vision in one eye, or rarely both eyes, even when wearing glasses. Vision development begins at birth and continues throughout childhood up to about 9 years old. Amblyopia occurs when vision is disrupted for any reason during this critical period.
Common Causes of Amblyopia
Refractive error: Significant myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), or astigmatism in one or both eyes can cause defocused images, disrupting normal vision development which relies on clear image stimulation on the retina.
Strabismus (Squint): If one eye consistently turns or turns most of the time, the
brain favors the straight eye, leading to amblyopia in the turned eye.
Vision Deprivation: Obstructions that prevent light from entering the eye, such as a droopy eyelid or cataract, can interfere with normal vision development.
Treatment for amblyopia
As age increases, improving vision becomes more challenging, so early treatment is crucial.
The first step is to address the cause of amblyopia, such as correcting refractive errors with full-time glasses wearing. This is followed by patching therapy, which involves covering the stronger eye to encourage the use of the weaker eye.
The duration of treatment can range from months to years, depending on factors such as the initial vision level, the age at which patching begins, and the compliance to the treatment plan.
Most children experience significant vision improvement with amblyopia treatment.